You've heard it from the pulpit a million times. You've heard it another million sitting on that pew beside your mom. You've seen it under Tim Tebow's eyes and by this point you probably have it written in sharpie on the back of your hand. John 3:16. But why do we neglect the power and impact of a message or phrase based on its increasing occurrence? “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If I'm being honest, I have always thought of and interpreted this verse as it pertains to me because it's what's familiar. “God so loved America” or “God so loved the town I grew up in” or “God so loved my high school.” It's all I've ever known. However, the amazing thing is that he actually loves you enough to love the whole world because it gives you a context for your identity. The fact that He loves you amongst the entirety of the globe must mean two things. One, that you are incredibly special and worth loving. And two, you aren't isolated. It's one thing to love a single particular color on its own like blue or green, but when you see that color incorporated onto a beautiful masterpiece of a canvas, all of a sudden it has an identity that, in turn, enhances its character. Based on the song God So Loved by Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Andrew Bergthold, Martin Cash, Kyle Briskin. Original post by We The Kingdom is available on YouVersion based on the album Holy Water.

Did you get your invitation? You are not going to want to miss this. It is just going to be that good! The food is going to be excellent and the company -- spectacular! There will be more than enough of all the good things your heart craves. And this remarkable gathering will last forever. You won't tire of the company or tap out because you have no more emotional bandwidth to keep visiting with people. Come all you sinnersCome find His mercyCome to the tableHe will satisfyTaste of His goodnessFind what you're looking for One small matter. We don't know the date. For this event, we just always need to be ready. Anticipating an event like this is going to be tiring at times. Waiting is hard. Because in the waiting, other circumstances take our focus off what is to come. At first, we have all this excitement. We are ready; love the idea of being on the guest list and are eager to maintain our appearance, so we won't be caught off guard. But we can become distracted, even discouraged, because it just seems to be taking too long. Come all you wearyCome all you thirstyCome to the wellThat never runs dryDrink of the WaterCome and thirst no more Maybe your waiting is for your person, that particular person who is yours for life. Maybe your waiting is for the pain of grief to lighten because your person is no longer with you. Perhaps you are waiting for provision, protection or wholeness; worn down from human suffering. Our earthly conditions make the time of waiting for the grand reunion, the miraculous dance, our first heavenly supper feel dreadfully far away. For some of us, the waiting becomes unbearable. We turned to sources of gratification that feel good at the moment but leave scars on our bodies and wounds in our spirit. Bring all your failuresBring your addictionsCome lay them downAt the foot of the crossJesus is waitingGod so loved the world God so loved the world that he gave the very best for you and me. He so loved. God, as our host, is gracious, compassionate and attentive. He spares no expense, provides all we could hope for or imagine, and He, alone, will meet all our needs. He has extended this invitation for all to come, and He is all that we require while we wait. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV There are some seasons in life where the things we look forward to seem thin and less noteworthy. There are no significant events right around the corner; nothing new on the horizon; one day leads into the next. Life feels flat or lacks clarity and color. Things around just seem hazy and grey. Maybe it is the time of year, here on the West Coast? Possibly it is all the world events that we have shared on repeat these years, but January through March can be dull, grey, flat. The journey can be hard, can be tiresome. For now, we are to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus" (Heb 12:1c-2a ESV). The NIV replaces "looking to" with the phrase 'fixing our eyes' -- we are to "fix" or "lock" our eyes on Jesus. We lift our eyes above the muck and mire that weighs us down; we set down the heavy burdens and focus heavenward on the celebration that will happen when we get to the finish line. We The Kingdom's worship song, God So Loved, has been on repeat today. For God So Loved! This time of worship reminded me of that invitation to the heavenly banquet. You won't want to miss this event because you can't be disappointed there and it will exceed your expectations. The guest list, alone, will leave us awed. But it will be the indescribable waves of emotion when we see the One who extended the invitation that will leave us breathless. Tracey Dahl, M.A. is a writer and Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in Langley, BC (Canada). She is married to Ryan Dahl (Founder of PraiseCharts) and the mother of four grown children. God So Loved was written by We The Kingdom and featured on the Live At The Wheelhouse album.